San Francisco 49ers: Is Switching from QB Blaine Gabbert to Colin Kaepernick a Fix?

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The San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to get much more out of quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who has done little more than scuffle five weeks into the 2016 NFL season. But is a switch to fellow QB Colin Kaepernick the right move for head coach Chip Kelly?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is an answer to head coach Chip Kelly’s problems under center.

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But Kap isn’t the answer.

Five weeks into the 2016 season, it’s clear No. 1 QB Blaine Gabbert is suited for little more than backup duties for nearly every NFL team in the league.

Following a dreadful 33-21 Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, in which Gabbert was 18-of-31 for 162 yards with a passing touchdown against two interceptions, it’s easy to understand why fans and analysts are clamoring for Kap to reclaim his old starting gig.

Perhaps. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.

Those results haven’t been pretty. Pro Football Focus ranks Gabbert as the No. 34 quarterback out of 35 qualifiers. The 27-year-old former first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars has a 69.6 passer rating, which is second to last out of all 32 starters this season.

So all this mandates a switch to Kaepernick, right?

Sure. Just don’t expect much different from the former 49ers star.

Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneels during the national anthem before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Temper Expectations for Kaepernick

Yes, Kaepernick took the league by storm in 2012 and backed it up the following year. Yes, at one point he was considered the “next big thing” to hit the NFL.

And then 2014 happened. 2015 too. Kap was benched in favor of Gabbert. We know the story.

Prior to the season, Niner Noise examined the Gabbert versus Kaepernick competition and looked at the detailed behind the numbers. His first two years starting, Kap thrived in a system which masked his flaws and promoted his strengths.

Those flaws? Inaccuracy, a lack of touch and a tendency to hold onto the ball too long within the pocket.

These negative traits don’t bode well in Kelly’s offense.

We also looked at more cons behind a switch to Kaepernick. What effect would the switch make on the locker room, especially if Kap’s struggles from last season carried over into this year?

If anything, Kelly — who has backed up Gabbert prior to Week 5 — hinted at a possible change under center (h/t Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area).

OK, fine. A switch might be needed. But will it deliver the hoped results? Well, not based on what SFGate’s Eric Branch tells us:

Maybe this changes under Kelly. Maybe it doesn’t. But we can easily draw the conclusion a switch to Kaepernick isn’t the ideal scenario.

The Ideal Solution?

Well, there really isn’t one. Not now at least.

Handing the starting reins over to Kaepernick would accomplish one thing. The move at least provides the answer both fans and analysts are looking for — can the 49ers move forward with Kaepernick beyond 2016.

If Kap performs well enough, OK. He’s a part of the equation next season and beyond in some capacity. If not, and his efforts aren’t much different than Gabbert’s, we’ve seen it firsthand at least.

Here’s a kicker for you — Maiocco cited a source within the locker room who stated No. 3 quarterback Christian Ponder should get the start.

San Francisco picked up Ponder during the preseason, although he hasn’t been active for any of the Niners’ first five games in 2016.

Maybe that’s the least bad out of three bad choices.

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    Sure, it’s entirely possible Kaepernick — who will start eventually this season, perhaps Week 6 — somehow resurrects his career and thrives under Kelly.

    But is it likely? Probably not.

    At any rate, the 49ers’ quarterbacking situation isn’t going to be solved anytime soon. And, in all likelihood, the long-term solution won’t be addressed until an early pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

    All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

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